Obituary: Robert Nordstrom

Robert E. Nordstrom, 80, of Geneseo passed away very peacefully Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at his home. A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at First Lutheran Church, Geneseo. The Rev. Arthur Bergren will officiate. Military honors will be accorded following the service at the church ...

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Geneseo Republic - Geneseo, IL

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Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 3:59 PM

Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 3:59 PM

Robert E. Nordstrom, 80, of Geneseo passed away very peacefully Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at his home. A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at First Lutheran Church, Geneseo. The Rev. Arthur Bergren will officiate. Military honors will be accorded following the service at the church by Don Cherry VFW Post No. 5083. Per his request, cremation rites have been accorded and inurnment will take place at a later date in Rosedale Cemetery, Cambridge. A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the Geneseo Chapel of Vandemore Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be left to Lutheran Social Services or the Juvenile Diabetes Association.

Bob was born on June 4, 1932, in Atkinson, the son of Berndt "Ben" and Ione (Westlund) Nordstrom. He was a graduate of Atkinson High School and Western Illinois University both for his undergraduate and master's degrees. He served his country proudly as a member of the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Greta W. Anderson on Dec. 28, 1956, in Orange, Mass. He was a long-time mathematics teacher, first teaching in Dundee for 10 years and then in the Cambridge School District teaching math for more than 25 years, retiring from there.

Bob was a member of First Lutheran Church, Geneseo and previously of the Cambridge Lutheran Church. He was very active at the Geneseo Community Center and enjoyed playing tennis and racquetball. He enjoyed running, cross-country skiing, doing puzzles, playing cards and working in his yard. Bob was proud of and enjoyed showing cattle when he was younger.

Survivors include his wife, Greta; one son and spouse, Paul and Ann Nordstrom of Morris; two daughters and spouse, Sonja Nordstrom of Chicago and Karen and Mark Kyrah of Indianapolis, Ind.; five grandchildren, Michael Nordstrom, Greg Nordstrom, Kevin Kyrah, Alex Kyrah and Laura Kyrah; and two sisters, Marie Norlen of Moline and Elna Johnson of Annawan. He was preceded in death by one brother, Ralph Nordstrom and two brothers-in-law.